Worst in the World: Hollywood Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Diamond Dallas Page & Karl Malone-Bash at the Beach 1998

Special thanks to Otter Empire for suggesting this match. If you'd like to see a match covered on the Worst in the World, leave a comment down below.

Professional wrestling and basketball. Two of my favorite things in the world. As evident by the fact that I run a wrestling blog, my love for it is no secret, but basketball is another thing I love. So much so that I have another blog for it. So, putting wrestling and basketball together seems like something right up my alley, right? Well...not when it's this match. Hulk Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Diamond Dallas Page & Karl Malone from Bash at the Beach 1998. Now, casual wrestling fans would more than likely know why Hogan and Page would square off, as the two were key figures in the nWo vs WCW feud...but where do Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone fit into this? Well, time to delve into a little basketball history.

Dennis Rodman was already a two-time NBA Champion by the time he was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1996, where he would spend three seasons and win another three championships while teamed up with the greatest player of all time in Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. During that three-year stretch, Rodman, an avid wrestling fan, decided to actually pursue it and linked up with WCW in 1997. A volatile, flashy, and sometimes controversial athlete (he was actually just a month removed from coming off a month-long suspension for kicking a cameraman during a game when he debuted on Nitro), Rodman was a perfect fit for the nWo. While he wasn't the first celebrity member of the nWo, he was the most involved, and it was clear that this wasn't a payday for him. Rodman was actually so committed to his role in WCW that he appeared on the June 8th, 1998 edition of Nitro in Michigan the day after he played in a game in Chicago, skipping practice the next day in the process. And that wasn't just any regular game, that was Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Dennis Rodman was in the middle of a championship series and decided to hang out with Hulk Hogan instead of practice. What a guy.

But back to basketball. When Rodman was palling around with the nWo, he and the Chicago Bulls were dominating the NBA. The Bulls had already won three straight NBA Championships in the 1990s without Rodman, and adding him helped secure another three. To put it in wrestling terms, the Bulls were like Triple H, every other team was the rest of the RAW roster, and the 90s were 2002-2005. Nobody could touch them. Because of the Bulls' dominance, some of the greatest NBA players during that time like Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing would never win a championship. Another one of those players was Karl Malone. Malone (even though, and I cannot stress this enough, we are not cool with Karl Malone here) was one of the best players in the history of basketball, but could never grab a ring thanks to the Bulls and Rodman. With both playing the power forward position, the two were fierce rivals on the court and, with Malone also being a big wrestling fan and a friend of Diamond Dallas Page, that rivalry spilled over into the wrestling ring.

It was actually perfect timing, as that Finals series Rodman appeared on Nitro in the middle of saw the Bulls facing Malone and the Utah Jazz in what would be the second year in a row the Bulls knocked off the Jazz. Following the conclusion of that series, Malone headed down to the WCW Power Plant, and within a month of the series ending, Bash at the Beach 1998 was here, and Rodman and Malone would square off on opposite sides of a tag match. Now that the history lesson is done, let's get into this.

Hogan & Rodman are out first with the Disciple (Brutus Beefcake because Hogan's here, of course he's involved in this) at their side, showing that Rodman has gone for the backyard wrestler look with a t-shirt with his face on it, jeans, and a bandana.

At least he's got actual boots. It's something I guess. DDP & Malone come out, showing he's decided to match DDP.

No complaints from me. I know this match is not good, but I'm loving this already. During their entrance, DDP & Malone chase Hogan & Rodman out of the ring. After a lot of jaw jacking, Malone and Rodman start the match. The two circle each other before Rodman has Hogan remove his sunglasses. More circling ends with Rodman retreating to the ropes as Malone charges at him. They do the exact same spot again before Malone calls for a test of strength, only to slap Rodman's hand away when he goes for it. The two finally lock up, with Rodman locking in a bad looking headlock. Malone pushes Rodman away, which causes Rodman to run the ropes poorly before bailing out of the ring. When he gets back in the ring, Rodman tags out to Hogan.

Hogan & Malone pose at each other before Hogan calls for a test of strength spot. The 6'9 Malone responds by holding his hand up too high for Hogan, causing Hogan to abandon the spot. That was fun, I liked that. The two lock up before Malone locks in a standing triangle choke. I did not think I'd be seeing MMA moves in this match, but here we are. Hogan attempts to break it by reaching the ropes multiple times, but Malone forces him back to the middle of the ring each time before bodyslamming him and tagging in DDP. DDP says he wants Rodman, so Hogan tags out. DDP and Rodman lock up, ending with Page shoving Rodman to the ground. Unlike me, however, the crowd is having absolutely none of this match, chanting "BORING!" around this time. They just don't know any better.

Rodman spits at DDP, so DDP fires some back at him. The two lock up again, this time with Rodman getting the better end of the deal with an actually nice arm drag. Hogan taunts Page from the apron, so DDP blows him a kiss and slaps his own ass. OK. Page & Rodman lock up again, with Page locking in a headlock. Rodman throws him off, but Page gets the better of a collision in the middle of the ring, sending Rodman to the mat. Another lockup leads to a Rodman headlock, but DDP breaks it with an ugly as sin takedown for a near fall. Page locks in a side headlock, but Rodman breaks it and pushes DDP off. DDP runs the ropes as Rodman leapfrogs him twice, but a clear miscommunication causes both to collide in the middle of the ring, earning some boos from the crowd as Page makes the cover for a near fall.

Malone tags in, causing Rodman to scurry away and tag in Hogan. Hogan locks in a wristlock on Malone, but Malone powers out. Hogan claims Malone pulled his hair, distracting the referee so Rodman can hit Malone from behind with a double ax handle. Hogan punches away at Malone before choking him against the mat. Hogan follows up with a bodyslam followed by a few elbow drops and a boot to the face before tagging in Rodman. Rodman hits a few elbow drops of his own before throwing Malone into Hogan's boot in the corner, tagging in Hogan to get a near fall. Hogan throws Malone into the corner before continuing to beat down on him for another near fall. Hogan goes to a chinlock, adding in a few knees to the back for good measure before going back to the choke. Rodman tags back so he can Hogan can double team Malone for one move, during which Rodman just falls over. Referee Charles Robinson is distracted by DDP trying to break up the double team, allowing Hogan to pretend a tag was made and get back in the match.

Hogan lays out Malone with a back suplex that Malone gives him no help on, but Malone dodges an elbow drop and tags in Page, who impressively springs up to the top rope and hits a diving clothesline on Hogan and knocks Rodman off the apron. DDP runs wild on Hogan, but a knee to the back from Rodman on the apron allows Hogan to regain control with a clothesline. Hogan whips Page with his weight lifting belt before sending Charles Robinson over to stop Malone from interfering, even though he's not doing anything...and he listens! What the hell is that about? This allows Rodman to choke Page in the corner before Hogan chokes him and tags in Rodman for a double clothesline. And then Hogan just...makes the cover and the referee counts it, completely ignoring the tag as Rodman gets back on the apron. This is kind of starting to fall apart.

Hogan beats down Page in the ring, including a huge clothesline that DDP sells like a champ, before dragging his face across the rope and tagging in Rodman for a double big boot. Rodman, once again, just goes back on the apron like he didn't just tag in, so Hogan has to tag him back in. As much as I like Dennis Rodman as a basketball player, Dennis Rodman, the wrestler is...not good. He stumbles around a lot, falls over for no reason, has a couple of ugly mistakes, and will just sometimes seem like he has no idea what he's doing. Credit to Malone, who seems at least competent when in the ring. He's obviously not Ricky Steamboat or Cesaro out there, but he's been perfectly acceptable.

Rodman forces Page back into the corner so Hogan can tag in and beat him down while the Disciple holds him in place by his tights. Hogan follows up with a suplex for a near fall before tagging Rodman back so the two can throw Page into the corner a bunch. Rodman, once again, doesn't stay in the ring as Hogan continues to beat down Page. DDP starts to fight back and go a tag, but Hogan stops him with a drop toe hold and tags in Rodman. Rodman locks in a front facelock, which Page tries and fails to break with three front suplex attempts. Malone tries to intervene, but Robinson stops him, allowing Hogan & Rodman to double team Page in the corner. Rodman just leaves the ring, so Hogan is legal now, I guess. Hogan beats down on Page before hitting a big boot. Hogan goes for the leg drop, but avoids it and makes the tag to Malone

Malone clotheslines Hogan twice before giving Rodman one. Malone follows up with a bodyslam for each of them before slamming both their heads together. Malone slams Hogan's head into the corner 10 times before calling for the Diamond Cutter. Malone hits a big boot before..calling for the Diamond Cutter again...and then tagging out to DDP. I'd complain about that, but who does a better Diamond Cutter than DDP. Nobody. Page hits the Diamond Cutter on Hogan while Malone gives Rodman one when he tries to break up the pin. However, Malone also goes for the pin, distracting the referee and allowing the Disciple to run in and hit a stunner on Page before throwing Hogan over Page. Hogan gets the three and the win for him & Rodman.

Malone gives the Disciple a Diamond Cutter for his trouble and raises his hand in victory as Charles Robinson explains what happened. Malone responds by giving him a Diamond Cutter as the rest of nWo Hollywood come down to celebrate with Hogan & Rodman. DDP & Malone proceed to enter the crowd and celebrate a loss for some reason to close out the show.

The Verdict

I know I've joked about how much I love this at the beginning, but man, this match is pretty rough. Malone was fine enough, nothing he did in the match was terrible, but Rodman just couldn't seem to do anything right. From wandering aimlessly to botching moves left and right to just blatantly forgetting he just tagged in, it was clear the guy had no business in a ring. Hogan and DDP were both fine as well, nothing really noteworthy about their performances either. And to top it off, this goes on for way too long. The best celebrity matches in wrestling tend to lean closer to the shorter side to hide their limitations (see DeAngelo Williams & Moose vs Eli Drake & Chris Adonis at Slammiversary XV.) When they go longer than that, like with Pat McAfee vs Adam Cole at Takeover XXX, it's generally because the celebrity in question has had significantly more training than the average outside star. That's not the case here, which is why the decision to have this match go nearly 24 minutes is mind-boggling. If you're a basketball fan you might get a kick out of this match and seeing two NBA players wrestle, but outside of that, this is not a match that's really worth watching.

Rankings (Best to Worst)

1. Rick Rude vs Jake Roberts-WrestleMania IV
2. Too Much vs Al Snow & Head-King of the Ring 1998
3. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns-Greatest Royal Rumble
4. The Tag Team Gauntlet-Extreme Rules 2010
5. Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 33
6. Vampiro vs Sting-Great American Bash 2000
7. T&A vs Head Cheese-WrestleMania 2000
8. Triple H vs Sgt. Slaughter-D-Generation X: In Your House
9. Konnan vs One Man Gang-SuperBrawl VI
10. Ultimate Warrior vs Hercules-WrestleMania IV
11. Rick Rude vs Hawk-Clash of the Champions XXV
12. Shelton Benjamin vs Viscera-New Year's Revolution 2006
13. Steve McMichael vs Reggie White-Slamboree 1997
14. The Tag Team Fatal 4-Way Match-WrestleMania 13
15. Tag Team Battle Royal-WrestleMania XIV
16. The Chamber of Horrors-Halloween Havoc 1991
17. The Natural Disasters vs Money Inc.-WrestleMania VIII
18. Ivan Koloff vs Paul Jones-Clash of the Champions IV
19. ODB, Taylor Wilde, and Roxxi vs The Kongtourage-Genesis 2009
20. Ivory vs Tori-SummerSlam 1999
21. Giant Baba vs Bulldog Bob Brown-WrestleRock
22. The Reverse Battle Royal-Impact! (10/26/2006)
23. Jerry Blackwell vs Boris Zhukov-SuperClash II
24. Nikita Koloff vs Bobby Eaton-Bunkhouse Stampede
25. Alex Wright vs Steve McMichael-Halloween Havoc 1997
26. The Great Khali vs Kane-WrestleMania 23
27. Savio Vega vs Crush vs Faarooq-Ground Zero: In Your House
28. The Shockmaster vs Awesome/King Kong-Starrcade 1993
29. Total Divas vs Other Divas-Survivor Series 2013
30. The Oddities vs Kaientai-SummerSlam 1998
31. Hulk Hogan vs Sid Justice-WrestleMania VIII
32. Paul Ellering vs Teddy Long-Capital Combat
33. Dusty Rhodes vs Big Boss Man-Saturday Night's Main Event (10/31/1989)
34. Tyson Tomko vs Stevie Richards-Unforgiven 2004
35. Kane vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2009
36. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Hog Wild
37. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Souled Out 1997
38. Dustin Rhodes & King Kong vs Awesome Kong & The Equalizer-Battlebowl
39. Finlay & Little Bastard vs The Boogeyman & Little Boogeyman-No Way Out 2007
40. Jake Roberts vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania V
41. Yokozuna vs King Mabel-In Your House 4
42. Dusty Rhodes vs The Honky Tonk Man-SummerSlam 1989
43. Sting & Hawk vs Meng & Kurasawa-Clash of the Champions XXXI
44. Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage-Uncensored 1998
45. Al Snow vs Big Boss Man-Unforgiven 1999
46. Mickie James vs Ashley-Royal Rumble 2006
47. Christy Hemme vs Big Fat Oily Guy-Against All Odds 2007
48. Stevie Ray vs Konnan-World War 3 1998
49. Vampiro vs The KISS Demon-Bash at the Beach 2000
50. Team WCW vs nWo Wolfpac vs nWo Hollywood-Fall Brawl 1998
51. Vampiro vs Oklahoma-Starrcade 1999
52. Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania III
53. Van Hammer vs Terrance Taylor-Clash of the Champions XVI
54. Junkyard Dog vs Moondog Spot-Wrestling Classic
55. The Undertaker vs Goldberg-Super ShowDown 2019
56. Hiroshi Wajima vs Tom Magee-All Japan Pro Wrestling 1988
57. Jim Duggan vs Big Boss Man-Royal Rumble 1990
58. Meng vs Jim Duggan-Uncensored 1995
59. Jim Steele vs The Equalizer-SuperBrawl IV
60. The Undertaker vs Giant González-WrestleMania IX
61. Sting vs Tony Palmore-Battle 7
62. D-Generation X vs Brothers of Destruction-Crown Jewel
63. Wendi Richter vs Leilani Kai-WrestleMania
64. Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar-WrestleMania XX
65. Edge vs Triple H vs Vladimir Kozlov-Survivor Series 2008
66. Kevin Sullivan vs Dave Sullivan-SuperBrawl V
67. Steve McMichael vs Brian Adams-Road Wild 1998
68. Scott Hall vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl IX
69. Boris Zhukov vs Paul Samson-Beach Brawl
70. Kane vs The Great Khali-Breaking Point
71. Hollywood Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Diamond Dallas Page & Karl Malone-Bash at the Beach 1998
72. PN News & Bobby Eaton vs Steve Austin & Terrance Taylor-Great American Bash 1991
73. Scott Steiner vs Sid Vicious vs Jeff Jarrett vs Road Warrior Animal-Sin
74. Hollywood Hogan vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl 1997
75. Batista vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2007
76.  Sable vs Tori-WrestleMania XV
77. Super Invader vs Todd Champion-WrestleWar 1992
78. Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez-Crown Jewel 2019
79. King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart vs Yokozuna & Jake Roberts-Heroes of Wrestling
80. Sid Vicious vs The Nightstalker-Clash of the Champions XIII
81. The 8-Divas Tag Match-Survivor Series 1999
82. The Fabulous Freebirds vs The Renegade Warriors-Halloween Havoc 1990
83. The Knockouts Gauntlet-One Night Only: Live! 2016
84. AJ Styles vs Frank Trigg-No Surrender 2008
85. Rick Rude vs Masahiro Chono-Halloween Havoc 1992
86. Mike Awesome vs Vampiro-Halloween Havoc 2000
87. Bray Wyatt vs John Cena-Extreme Rules 2014
88. Brothers of Destruction vs KroniK-Unforgiven 2001
89. Mabel vs The Undertaker-King of the Ring 1995
90. Wendi Richter vs The Fabulous Moolah-The Brawl to End it All
91. David Flair vs Kimberly Page-Mayhem 1999
92. The Truth Commission vs The Disciples of Apocolypse-Survivor Series 1997
93. Daffney vs Miss Hancock-Bash at the Beach 2000
94. The Bushwhacker vs The Fabulous Rougeaus-WrestleMania V
95. The Beverly Brothers vs The Bushwhackers-Royal Rumble 1992
96. Teddy Long vs Eric Bischoff-Survivor Series 2005
97. Greg Valentine vs George Steele-Heroes of Wrestling
98. Abdullah the Butcher vs One Man Gang-Heroes of Wrestling
99. Major Gunns vs Miss Hancock-New Blood Rising
100. Bradshaw & Trish Stratus vs Christopher Nowinski & Jackie Gayda-RAW (7/8/2002)
101. Triple H vs Scott Steiner-Royal Rumble 2003
102. Santina Marella vs Vickie & Chavo Guerrero-Extreme Rules 2009
103. Kevin Nash vs Scott Steiner vs Goldberg-New Blood Rising
104. Hollywood Hogan vs The Warrior-Halloween Havoc 1998
105. Mr. T vs Roddy Piper-WrestleMania 2
106. The Royal Family vs Clowns R' Us-Survivor Series 1994
107. The Blacktop Bully vs Dustin Rhodes-Uncensored 1995
108. Team Dos Caras vs Team El Canek-Leyendas Mexicanas 2017
109. Pat Patterson vs Gerald Brisco-King of the Ring 2000
110. The Four Doinks vs Team Bigelow-Survivor Series 1993
111. Sting vs Jeff Hardy-Victory Road 2011
112. Oz vs Tim Parker-SuperBrawl
113. Brock Lesnar vs Braun Strowman-Crown Jewel 2018
114. Brock Lesnar vs Ricochet-Super ShowDown 2020
115. The Mighty Maccabee vs The Iron Sheik-Maccabiah Mania II: Shekel Slam
116. Van Hammer vs Doug Somers-Halloween Havoc 1991
117. Ultimate Warrior vs Andre the Giant-Saturday Night's Main Event (11/25/1989)
118. Jeff Jarrett vs Sting-Halloween Havoc 2000
119. The Doomsday Cage Match-Uncensored 1996
120. Kane vs The Undertaker-Judgement Day 1998
121. Rebel vs Shelly Martinez-One Night Only: Knockouts Knockdown
122. Kaitlyn vs Maxine-NXT (10/19/2010)
123. Sabu vs The Sandman-November to Remember 1997
124. Seth Rollins vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-Hell in a Cell 2019
125. Michael Cole vs Jerry Lawler-WrestleMania XXVII
126. The Bushwhackers vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff-Heroes of Wrestling
127. James Storm vs Chris Harris-Lockdown 2007
128. John Laurinaitis vs John Cena-Over the Limit 2012
129. Hulk Hogan vs The Giant-Halloween Havoc 1995
130. Ultimate Warrior vs Goldust-In Your House 7
131. Los Villanos vs Los Psycho Circus-Triplemania XXIII
132. Jenna Morasca vs Sharmell-Victory Road 2009

Thanks for reading! Be sure to share if you enjoy and leave any suggestions for matches you'd like to see covered on the Worst in the World. Next week, I'll take a look at a match pitting a non-wrestler against a sort-of, kind of wrestler. You'll see what I mean. Until next time.